While grain and luster are essential in selecting a Go Board, Kenichi Kumasu says that the legs are also a necessary part of the process. Craftsmen who hand-carve the legs in the shape of gardenia fruit are rare in Japan. The legs are an inconspicuous part of the board but require a high skill level. A Go board with elaborately made legs is evidence of a board that has been carefully crafted with that much care and attention.
Hand-carved by Kenichi Kumasu, the legs give the board a soft, smooth, and distinctive silhouette, adding a noble touch to the Hyuga Kaya (Japanese Torreya) board.
The fruit of the gardenia is the shape of the legs of the board. The Japanese pronunciation of the word "gardenia" is the same as "No Mouth." Therefore, the gardenia shape of the legs of the Go board means "Others should not speak in the game.